Siaya Senator James Orengo has weighed in on the 2022 general election, noting that his party leader Raila Odinga cannot be forced to vie for the presidential seat.
According to Senator Orengo, Odinga has been consistent that he’ll address the 2022 election after the BBI Bill is passed; therefore Kenyans ought to be patient and wait for him to make a pronouncement on the same.
Regarding ODM’s way forward should Odinga opt out of the 2022 presidential race, Senator Orengo noted that the party has other options and may get others in the near future.
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“…If he doesn’t run as you said we’ve got two candidates and we may have others,” Orengo said in part.
On reports that the party is planning to extend the presidential ticket application deadline to create room for Odinga, Orengo said the decision to contest or not lies with the former Premier, adding that it is not illegal to extend the timeline.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed on Wednesday said ODM’s National Executive Council (NEC) will meet soon to deliberate on the way forward regarding its presidential candidates.
“The issue has caused a very big confusion within the party. The matter will be presented before NEC for discussion and review. The organ will give final and conclusive recommendations to guide the party moving forward,” Junet said.
By the close of the application deadline, only Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya had applied for the party’s presidential ticket.
